MacBook Pro Keyboard - How to Swap / Remap Keys?

Question

I know this may be asked before in a different manner, but I still haven't really seen a solid answer. I'm hoping that providing these 2 specific needs will make it more clear.

I specifically want 2 behaviors that will make my transition from a long time PC user to being able to use a MacBook Pro.

Background:

• I am a windows user that just got my first mac ever (in my life) this past weekend.
• I am dual booting the MBP with Snow Leopard and Windows 7 x64

What I want to do (in both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard):

• Swap the fn and control keys (not physically)
• Be able to tap the eject key for a forward delete, but keep the ability of holding down the eject key to actually eject the disc.

Are these possible, if so what is the best way (software?) of accomplishing this in both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard?

Solution 1

On OS X: DoubleCommand

On Windows: SharpKeys

For anything more extensive, you'll want AutoHotkey (Windows) or IronAHK (AutoHotkey rewrite that works with Mono for cross-platform compatibility - Linux, Mac, etc).

Solution 2

On the Snow Leopard side you can swap Control and Fn with Karabiner (formely KeyRemap4MacBook).

If you're dual-booting, a good idea is to swap Command and Control in OS X's preferences. You'll get physically same keyboard shortcuts on both.

Solution 3

Just as a sidenote you may also consider taking a look at the normal OS X system preferences under Keyboard there is a button on the lower-right named "Modifier keys" where you can define which actions should be taken by the modifier keys (caps-lock, ctrl, cmd,...). Could also be enough in some situation without installing 3rd-party software.

Solution 4

There is keyboard maestro that does this

Solution 5

You can use BetterTouchTool, it's a free tool with wich you can reprogram keys and multi-touch gestures. Make sure that in your settings you have set the F1, F2, etc-keys as default. Open BetterTouch and remap your keyboard. Don't forget to automatically let it run after logging in. It's also a very usefull tool for working with multi-touch gestures. I use it to swipe through my Spaces with four fingers. I don't like the default gestures in Snow Leopard.

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Comments

[Jon Erickson]

and DoubleCommand only allows me to map fn -> control but not control -> fn

[John T]

Take a look at the alternatives, they are much more flexible.

[iconoclast]

It's now called Karabiner.

[Aleksandr Dubinsky]

autohotkey does not detect Fn key. You could use it to remap Caps Lock however.

[prestonsmith]

Any update on this in 2021? It seems Big Sur doesn't allow this anymore and I'm in the same situation as OP (first-time Mac user hoping to map keys to Windows type keyboard)